Coaster



Nov. 13, 1951 D] ILBERT 2,574,638

COASTER Filed May 18, 1950 Fig.

Alan 0. Gilbert INVENTOR.

Patented Nov. 13, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COASTER. Alan D.Gilbert, Cambridge, Ohio Application May 18, 1950, Serial No. 162,621

3 Claims.

Thi invention relates to new and useful improvementsand structuralrefinements in coasters for glasses, or the like, and the principalobject of the invention is to provide a coaster of the character hereindescribed which includes meansifor. separably attaching itself to aglass soithat'it may be lifted .bodily therewith while drinking...

An important feature of the invention, therefore, resides in theprovision of novel attaching means, these means being so arranged thatthey may be quickly and easily collapsed or folded into the body of thecoaster when the latter is not in use.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity ofconstruction, in its efiicient and dependable operation, in its pleasingappearance, in its durability, and in its adaptability to economicalmanufacture.

With the other more important objects and features in view and suchother objects and features as may become apparent as this specificationproceeds, the invention consists essentially of the arrangement andconstruction of parts as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the invention applied to a drinkingglass.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantiallyin the plane of the line 2-2-in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in theplane of the line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top planview of the invention per se in its foldedposition.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view, taken substantially in theplane of the line 5--5 in Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of a finger such asmay be used in the invention.

Like characters of reference are employed to designate like parts in thespecification and throughout the several views.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, the inventionconsists of a coaster which is designated generally by the referencecharacter l0 and embodies in its construction a cupshaped base l2 havingan arcuate side wall M which has the upper portion thereof extendedinwardly so as to provide an inturned flange l6, substantially as shown.

The base I2 is adapted to receive on the bottom thereof a drinking glassl8 and the essence of novelty in the invention resides in the provisionof means for frictionally retaining the drinking glass in position sothat the coaster may be lifted bodily therewith.

These means simply consist of pairs of sockets 20 which aresuitably'secured to the inner surface of the side wall l4 below theflange I6, each socket simply assuming the form of an arcuate strapprovided with upturned and downturned hooks 22; 24 at the respectivelower and upper ends thereof.

The sockets in each pair are spaced apart so as to receive therebetweenthe lower or inner end portion of a resilient finger 26 which isprovided with a pair of laterally projecting trunnions 30 to engage thesockets as will be hereinafter described. When the invention is in usethe fingers 26 project upwardly from the base [4 and when a glass I8 isapplied to the base, the trunnions 36 of the fingers 26 are seated inthe upturned hooks 22 of the sockets 26 while intermediate portions ofthe fingers abut the inner edge of the flange l6 as at 34 (see Figure 2)and the upper end portions of the resilient fingers frictionally engagethe glass so as to firmly yet removably retain the same in position inthe coaster. If desired, suitable pads 36 of rubber or some similarmaterial may be provided on the inner surfaces of the upper end portionsof the fingers 26 to assist in frictionally engaging the glass.

In addition to its primary purpose of providing abutment for the fingers26, the flange l6 also performs a secondary function, namely, that ofsafeguarding against any possible spilling of liquid out of the coasterin the event the latter is not sustained in a horizontal position.

The fingers 26 are of such length that when the glass I8 is removed fromthe coaster, the trunnions 36 of the fingers may be shifted upwardly inthe sockets 20 to engage the downturned hooks 24, whereupon the severalfingers may be collapsed or folded, one upon another, within theinterior of the base M, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

If desired, a modified form of fingers may be used, such as for exampleis illustrated in the accompanying Figure 6 and is designated by thereference character 46, the glass engaging portion of which is fashionedto form an initial 42, substantially as shown. Moreover, upper endportions of the fingers 26 or 42 may be arcuated to conform to thecircumference of the glass, and needless to say, friction increasingmeans may be provided on the fingers 42, as illustrated at 36 on thefingers 26.

It is believed that the advantages and use of the invention will beclearly apparent from the foregoing disclosure and accordingly, furtherdescription thereof at this point is deemed unnecessary.

While in the foregoing there has been shown and described the preferredembodiment of this invention, it is to be understood that minor changesin the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resortedto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asclaimed.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a coaster for glasses, or the like, the combination of acup-shaped base having an arcuate side wall provided at the top thereofwith an inturned flange, pairs of spaced sockets secured to the innersurface of said side wall below said flange and each comprising anarcuate strap provided with upturned and downturned hooks at therespective lower and upper ends thereof, and a set of resilient fingersextending upwardly from said base and provided at their lower ends withpairs of laterally projecting trunnions engaging the respective pairs ofsockets, intermediate portions of said fingers being adapted to abutsaid flange when said trunnions engage the upturned hooks of the socketswhereby upper end portions of the fingers may frictionally engage aglass positioned on said base.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with friction increasingmeans provided on inner surfaces of the upper end portions of saidfingers.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said trunnions areengageable with the downturned hooks of said sockets, when said fingersare swung to a folded position in said base.

ALAN D. GILBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file ofthis patent:

STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 264,163 Hurlbut Sept. 12, 1882 551,547Howard Dec. 17, 1895 807,548 Ganswindt Dec. 19, 1905 1,234,877 CoppedgeJuly 31, 1917 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,517 Great BritainAug. 14, 1900 102,182 Great Britain Nov. 23, 1916 315,597 Great BritainJuly 18, 1929

